I think it is more likely someone will come in for Diame in January, I hope we can keep him, and a lot will depend how we are position in January, if we are up there, then he may think better to stay and go back up with us, rather than move again. Luer was only anonymous as you put it because he wasn't getting the service and was very much isolated once the initial flourish we had at the beginning of the game. In that first 20 minutes it was nice to see with his goal and the chance Hernandez missed from a similar position that we created chances through the channels, rather than just from crosses. But I guess that is what Diame brings and what we have missed, much prefer to keep him and lose Huddlestone, as he does have a goal in him and create chances for others.
We won 1-0. Bigger teams went out to way lower opposition. It was round 2. Squad players got a run out. If you expect to be watching Real Madrid. Style football every game you picked the wrong club.
Precisely, it was a typical Steve Bruce performance. we will see many more before the season ends. I'm considering bringing a book to matches to read during the dull bits. We did enough to win, not much more, and nothing less.
Thing is though, why run yourself into the ground when you don't need to? It's a long season, why risk injury? Yes it's a little risky but realistically we want to do well in the league, the league cup is a sideshow. Last night gave a chance and run out for a few players. We won. I just can't view it as negatively as some.
We worked hard all match, usually defending, we had to. Rochdale played some neat football in good areas. They got through a couple of times but had no cutting edge.
We were dire last night, absolutely ****ing appalling, the only way anyone could have enjoyed that ****e is if they left after ten minutes. Diame was brilliant and Luer took his goal well, but every other aspect of the performance was a mess, no shape, no attacking intent, no nothing.
The midfield was yet again our downfall. The three in the middle of Meyler, Diame and Hayden all gave ok individual performances but as a unit they didn't work at all. There was no real shape and they didn't work together. They didn't press as a group but rather as individuals so it was easy to play around them. They also didn't give each other good options for passes so barely any of our moves went through the middle yet again. I imagine all of the midfielders made more passes to the defence than they did to each other. Our tactics were poor last year and they show no signs of improving.
The shape was terrible. The players didn't have a clue . That can only be down to poor preparation. I know most fans don't like it but to get the best out of our wide players (Elmo & Robbo) we should play 3-5-2. Robertson's defending in a flat back 4 is woeful at times.
I said that the other day about 3-5-2. I'm in full agreement. Which if Elmo does stay, it makes the signing of Odubajo a strange one for me. Bruce got it bang on with his formation selection when he first arrived, he said the formation was dictated by the players he had at his disposal. I simply can't see how the players he has added suit our change of formation to a 4-4-2. We've signed players so far that are very similar to ones we already have.
Maybe 3-5-2 is too simple for the Premier League, but it worked in the Champsionship last time, and as mentioned above, our players really do suit this formation.
It suits Elmo and Robertson, but it certainly doesn't suit the signings of Odubajo, Clucas and Taylor.
Or Maloney if he ever signs, or Snodgers when he comes back. Plus we only have 4 centre halves so there's not much room for injury/suspension/fatigue. I think we should start playing 4-5-1 it would allow us to dominate better with the extra man in the middle.
My thought as well, we just don't look well balances playing 442 or 433. Have to agree about Robertson, his defending is woeful at time. I also thought Maguire was poor last night, even though the player he was marking was a foot shorter than him he didn't dominate the aerial battles and his distribution was poor.
I can see Odubajo playing RWB in a 3-5-2. Think it would suit him. It wouldn't bother me if Ryan Taylor never pulled on the black and amber jersey ever again. And I'm a mild mannered fan. I'm not one for jeering or barracking our players but his performance last night was atrocious.
To answer a few comments about Clucas, he has something that only Diame has got, a bit of attacking threat from midfield and I'd say to fans not to be too quick to judge him as he is still clearly nervous, it reminds me of when Cairney came into the team and he had Boateng guiding him, Bruce needs to address the problem on the pitch of who is helping the new signings and young lads settle as at the moment they are not getting that guidance.
He was nowhere near fit to be honest, you could see it from where I was, he was leaving tonnes of space for their players to exploit, I'd be surprised if he is actually that bad when up to speed. I'd be more worried about Robertson as he is fit and he doesn't seem to read the game well defensively relying on his pace, he actually nearly gifted them a goal early on and that would really have given people something major to complain about
